A 58-year-old man from Watchet has been spared jail after being sentenced for a sexual offence against an underage girl.

Shaun Bidwell, of Swain Street in Watchet, was sentenced today (Monday, December 9) at Taunton Crown Court.

Bidwell was sentenced for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 in November this year.

He was given a two-year community order, 30 days rehabilitation activity requirement, and ordered to undertake 240 hours unpaid work.

Bidwell was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years and placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, as well as being told to pay a victim surcharge of £85.